Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has dismissed Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) claim of rejecting cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN), saying the coalition never invited the party back in the first place.
Commenting on remarks by PBS acting president Datuk Joachim Gunsalam, Bung described the claim as political theatre, adding that PBS appeared to be rejecting a non-existent offer. He said BN Sabah never initiated any talks or extended any invitation for collaboration ahead of the state election.
“BN never asked them…so there’s nothing for them to reject,” he said on Friday.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Bung also questioned PBS’s credibility, saying the party had long abandoned its original ideals and was now struggling to stay relevant after years of switching alliances.
He criticised PBS’s attempt to frame itself as a sought-after partner, claiming the party’s political standing had diminished and it now functioned more as a follower than a key player within the ruling GRS coalition.
According to Bung, BN Sabah is no longer interested in working with parties that had once left the coalition for political convenience. He said the focus was now on building alliances with consistent and trustworthy partners, rather than entertaining “political nostalgia” or reviving past affiliations.
Bung also urged PBS to stop exaggerating its role in the current political landscape, saying voters today are more discerning and not swayed by outdated tactics.